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About

Experienced Excellence

Eric Schlimgen, a Black Hills native has been practicing since 2016 with measurable success. He prides himself on a deep tradition of excellence, ensuring only the highest quality service. Eric understands the challenges and pressure that comes with every case and is here for you, every step of the way.


Dependable, calm, and well spoken, Eric approaches each new case with the attention it needs. Get in touch with him today.

About: About

Education

University of South Dakota School of Law, Vermillion, South Dakota

  • Juris Doctor – 2016

  • Honors: Moot Court

Lewis and Clark Law School, Portland, Oregon

  • Juris Doctor – 2014

  • Major: Energy, Environmental, and Natural Resource Law

University of South Dakota, Vermillion, South Dakota

  • Masters of Public Administration magna cum laude â€“ 2016

University of South Dakota, Vermillion, South Dakota

  • Bachelors of Criminal Justice & Political Science â€“ 2013

University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota

  • B.A. – 2012

  • Honors: Spanish language immersion program in Buenos Aires, Argentina

Bar Admissions

 

U.S. District Court, District of South Dakota, 2017
Wyoming, 2017

South Dakota, 2016

Honors & Awards

Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent Rated/Client Champion Platinum, 2024, 2025

National Academy of Family Law Attorneys, Nationally Ranked Top 10 Under 40, 2025

South Dakota State Bar Association, Young Lawyer of the Year, 2023

Martindale-Hubbell Client Champion Platinum/Peer Rated for High Professional Achievement, 2023

Martindale- Hubbell Very High Rating in Both Legal Ability & Ethical Standards, 2022

Martindale-Hubbell Distinguished Peer Rated for High Professional Achievement, 2020

The National Trial Lawyers 40 Under 40 Criminal Defense, 2020, 2019, 2022

University of South Dakota 30 Under 30 Class of 2019

South Dakota State Bar & Access to Justice Pro Bono Service Award, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024

Costello Porter Annual Trust & Wills/Estate Planning Essay Winner, 2015

University of South Dakota Omicron Delta Kappa, Circle President, 2013

University of South Dakota Outstanding Student Leader Award from South Dakota Board of Regents, 2013

University of South Dakota Criminal Justice Faculty Appreciation Award, 2013

Oneta H. Card Government Cooperation Scholarship, 2012

University of South Dakota Mock Trial Advocate Award, 2012

Mary B. Elden Internship Award, 2010

Who’s Who Amongst American Colleges and Universities Distinction, 2013

Appeals                ***all appeals are hyperlinked to opinions.

Matter of Estate of Ager, 2024 S.D. 55, 11 N.W.3d 878 (Audio of Oral Argument) (Following denial of motion by wife, who was a beneficiary of husband's estate, to remove husband's daughter as personal representative of the estate, which occurred during period in which administration of the estate was unsupervised, wife filed petition for supervised administration of the estate. Shortly thereafter, daughter filed a motion for confirmation of a specific devise relating to proceeds of a sale of storage units husband had owned and sold prior to his death. The trial court entered an order granting wife's motion for supervised administration and, approximately two months later, denied daughter's motion for confirmation of the specific devise. Daughter filed a notice of appeal, and wife filed a notice of review seeking review of the decision denying her motion to remove daughter as personal representative.)

​Estate of Ager, #30501,#30604, Dismissed (Strawn)

​Ager v. Coyle, 10 N.W.3d 827 (S.D. 2024)

​State v. LaPointe, #30658, 9-30-2024 Affirmed (Day)

​State v. Tisher, #30337, 10-10-2023 Affirmed (Krull)

​State v. See, #30325, 10-10-2023 Affirmed (Day)

​State v. Babcock, 2020 S.D. 71, 952 N.W.2d 750 (Defendant was convicted in the Circuit Court, Fourth Judicial Circuit, Butte County, Michael W. Day, J., of two counts of aggravated assault and two counts of simple assault for attacking his former significant other during a fight. Defendant appealed.)

​Goin v. Houdashelt, 2020 S.D. 32, 945 N.W.2d 349 (Former employee of kombucha bar brought a small claims court unpaid wages action, which was removed. After a bench trial, the Circuit Court, Circuit Court, Seventh Judicial Circuit, Pennington County, Jane W. Pfeifle, J., ruled in favor of employee on merits but denied her request for attorney fees under removal statute. Employee appealed.)

​State v. Overstreet, #29268, 11-23-2020 Affirmed (Day)

​State v. Davis, #29243, 8-31-2020 Affirmed (Day)

​State v. Piekkola, #29049 and #29050, 12-13-2019 Affirmed (Day)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Seminars & Publications 

Pennington County Defense Bar Monthly Lecturer, 2019: The Pennington County Defense Bar is a collection of attorneys who meet for the purpose of advancing the practice of Criminal Defense. I spoke on the topic of the discrepancies of South Dakota's Marijuana Statutes related to my Law Review Article.

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Pennington County Public Defender's Office Monthly Lecturer, 2019: The Pennington County Public Defender's Officer has a monthly lecture series on developments in the area of Criminal Defense. I was the speaker regarding the defense of marijuana cases, specifically regarding the discrepancies in South Dakota's current statutes as two definitions of marijuana apply--choosing the right definition is the difference between a felony and misdemeanor.

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"What's in a Name Anyway?": Reevaluating South Dakota's Cannabis Statutory Scheme, South Dakota Law Review, Volume 63 Issue I, 2018. The South Dakota Legislature enacted laws in an effort to regulate cannabis. However, the laws in place are outdated in comparison to the advances in the cannabis industry. Currently, several of South Dakota's statutes are conflicting and vague. Due to the language of the existing laws, legislative intent and the practical effect are juxtaposed; for example, individuals with high level tetrahydrocannabinol ("THC') in 'flowering" or natural form cannabis are charged with a misdemeanor, while individuals with low level THC in an extract are charged with a felony. Essentially, the law no longer effectuates the purpose of protecting against high levels of THC, resulting in arduous consequences for the judicial system.

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Take Back the Night Foundation, 2017: Panelist on forum for dating and domestic violence at Black Hills State University.

 

Professional Associations & Pro Bono Activities

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Black Hills Mountain Bike Association, Vice-President, 2018 – 2020
Pennington County State Bar, Member, 2017 – Present
West Boulevard Neighborhood Association, Member, 2017 – 2020
Volunteer Judge for Pennington County Teen Court, 2017 – 2019
Volunteer Judge for Lawrence County Teen Court, 2016 – 2017
Rapid City Arts Council, Board Member, 2017 – Present
Rapid City Arts Council Emerging Artists, Member, 2017 – 2018
Rapid City Chamber Young Professional Program, Member, 2016 – Present
South Dakota Commission For National and Community Service, Governor Appointed Commissioner, 2011 – 2015
Volunteer Ask-A-Lawyer State Bar of South Dakota Program, 2018 – Present
Volunteer for Unified Judicial System Access To Justice, 2018 – Present
Pennington County Teen Court Program, Judge, 2017 – Present
Cheisman Center for Democracy, Mock Congressional Hearing Judge, 2017
Lawrence County Teen Court Program, Judge, 2016 – 2017
Black Hills State University Student Diversion Program, Facilitator, 2016 – 2017
South Dakota High School Athletic Association Oral Interpretation & Debate Tournament, Judge, 2016
Miss South Dakota’s Outstanding Teen Pageant, Judge, 2016

Previous Employment

Clayborne, Loos & Sabers, Associate, 2017 - 2020

Fourth Judicial Circuit, Law Clerk, 2016 – 2017

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TEL (605)-340-1340

FAX (605)-340-1420

611 Dahl Rd, Suite 1, Spearfish, SD 57783


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The materials contained on this website have been prepared by Schlimgen Law Firm, LLC and are intended for informational purposes only and are not legal advice. Transmission of the information is not intended to create, and receipt does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship. While we have attempted to maintain information on this website as accurately as possible, this information may contain errors or omissions, for which we disclaim liability. This website contains information on legal issues and is not a substitute for legal advice from a qualified attorney licensed in the appropriate jurisdiction. This site contains links to other web sites. We are not responsible for the privacy practices or the content of such web sites, and we do not endorse such sites. Copyright© 2020 by Schlimgen Law Firm, LLC. All rights reserved. Any reproduction of any content of this site is prohibited other than reproductions for individual, non-commercial, and informational use. Schlimgen Law Firm, LLC expressly disclaims all liability with respect to actions taken or not taken based on any or all of the contents of this website. By contacting Schlimgen Law Firm, LLC or any of its attorneys or employees, you agree that Schlimgen Law Firm, LLC may review any information that you transmit to us, whether submitted at our request or not. You recognize that our review of any unsolicited information you may submit, even if you submitted it in a good faith effort to retain us, and, further, even if it is highly confidential, does not preclude us from representing another client directly adverse to you, even in a matter in which that information could and will be used against you. You should not send confidential information or information that you regard as privileged to Schlimgen Law Firm, LLC until you have received written confirmation from Schlimgen Law Firm, LLC of its willingness to provide the legal services you may request. The content of any correspondence you send via the Internet will not be considered confidential unless you have received such written confirmation. Past results obtained by Schlimgen Law Firm LLC attorneys are no guarantee of future results. Each case or matter is different and is judged on its own merits.

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